TRUE TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 6

TRUE TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES.

» THE MORAL FIBRE. A MOTHER'S FEARS. THERE is no doubt that the moderate and sober use of alcoholic liquors is the result of a strong will and probably of a good method of training. The leading statesmen and the prominent churchmen of tho world appear to be resolved in their minds that legal enforcement will do very little. towards tho inculcation of temperance principles. The mind and the self-respect must be acted upon, and the will trained. That is why the great Roman and Anglican Churches aro practically of one mind as regards tho teaching of temperance. Legal restriction of rational testes loads to revolt. Tho necessity for building up tho moral fibre of tho individual has been well put in portions of a letter recently published in tho "Cosmopolitan Review." Tho writer, a mother, said:—

"I do not suppose that any mother eTer failed ,to impress upon her sons the dangers of strong drink. And I believe that over and over again tho greatest niistako has beon mado in trying to keep children in ignorance, thus exposing them to sudden outside temptation.

"Boys must grow up in the world as it is. They must meet the world's temptations. Ignorance of life or. a childish promise made to a mother is a poor weapon when that mother is gone.

"Knowledge, temperance, self-control based upon good example, and thorough understanding of the world—those things produoe the strong, balanced man. Hysterical exaggeration, coercion in place of argument, mysterious dread that arouses curiosity—such are the beginnings of many a drunkard's career."

Here tho effect of good.example is emphasised—and it cannot bo too strongly emphasised. It is known that in nations where children are given the use of light wines or beers with their meals, there is not so great a tendency towards excessive uso of alcoholic beverages. Ono can travel through Italy, France, Spain, and Germany without ever seeing a drunken man—though in those countries everybody drinks. The children see the practice of temperance—"true temperance"— in tho parents; and they arc strengthened, and their moral fibre braced more by example than by all tho fiery "temperance" sermons ever preached. There is far too much nonsense talked about prohibition being synonymous with temperance Temperance is not total abstinence, and to use in moderation alcoholic liquors is not sinful; neither havo tho peoples of the earth found it harmful. This fetish worship of prohibition as a saving grace in any community is an eicrescense upon tho body social, political, and religious. It can only bo removed by truly temperate pooplo everywhere striking, out the bottom lines on both ballot papers on election day. Let us, like the mother in tho "Cosmopolitan Review," havo dono with tho namby-pamby methods of coddling ourselves and our young people.*